The planned “common health system” envisioned by Baylor and Scott & White benefits no one but themselves. The combination of these two hospital empires is anti-competitive and will provide consumers with less choice, not more, and more expensive care, not less.

Both systems are moving toward hospital-employed physicians, further limiting patient choice, while driving up consumer costs. Very little charity care is provided by either “nonprofit” system — each is only slightly above the statutory minimum of 5 percent.

Bigger is not better. Less competition does not result in lower prices for consumers, even in a unique industry like health care.